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American Wetlands Month
Volume 1, Issue 2
What you can do!
A good way to help organize your community around a conservation project is to raise awareness of the benefits that wetlands provide. Set up a hiking or canoeing tour of a local wetland to point out fun and fascinating wildlife and plants that may be easy for a passer-by to miss. Naturalists at nearby parks, refuges, or nature centers can act as a tour guide. Universities, conservation organizations, and state or local government agencies also may be able to help. For a list of wetland contacts, visit www.iwla.org/sos/.
CONTACTS
The Izaak Walton League of America
707 Conservation Lane
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878
(301)548-0150
Leah Miller,
Director of Watershed Programs
email:leah@iwla.org
Kami Watson
Coordinator, Save our Streams
email:kami@iwla.org
LINKS
Ducks Unlimited values wetlands conservation for the benefit of wildlife, as well as hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Find more about them at www.ducks.org. From here, you can link to the ways wetlands specifically contribute to wetland recreation activities at www.ducks.org/conservation.
Audubon Society s Wetlands Campaign supports those who want to get more involved in community wetlands conservation: www.audubon.org.
Trout Unlimited is working hard to promote improved water quality and fish habitat within America s streams and wetlands. More information about locally-led campaigns and educational opportunities can be found at www.tu.org.
The American Sportfishing Association plays an important role in linking outdoorsmen and women with state and federal natural resource agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists.www.asafishing.org.
Learn more about what the National Shooting Sports Foundation is doing to ensure that wildlife continues to be enjoyed by future generations at www.nssf.org.
Canoers, kayakers and rafters appreciate our nation s pristine waterways and wildlife viewing opportunities. The American Canoe Association is working hard to put natural resource protection at the forefront of national policy priorities. Learn more at www.acanet.org.
To find some great outdoor recreational opportunities near you, check out the following databases:
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WETLANDS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION
Outdoor recreation is the most popular, and fastest growing, leisure time activity in the United States today, with an annual increase of about 30 percent since 1987. Federal studies estimate that 95 percent of all Americans participate in some form of outdoor recreation every year. The activities that people enjoy range from a simple stroll along a nature trail, to a seasonal visit to a favorite ice-fishing spot, all the way to the challenging sport of wind surfing.
According to the most recent of these studies, more than 82 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older went fishing, hunting, or watched wildlife in 2001. Many of these activities occurred in or around wetlands, which provide habitat for an astounding variety of fish and wildlife species. Chances are, if you are someone who enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, birdwatching, nature photography or camping, then somewhere, sometime, a wetland has been central to your activity.
By providing hiding places and food sources for the young of many fish species, wetland habitats are invaluable to freshwater recreational fishing enthusiasts. The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen s Associations states almost $79 billion per year in economic activity is generated from activities related to the enjoyment and harvest of wetland-dependent species.
Additionally, one-half to two-thirds of America s wild ducks hatch in the prairie pothole region marshes in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. These wetlands are vital to sustaining the waterfowl population during the spring and fall migrations. Waterfowl hunters recognize this and, through organizations like the Izaak Walton League and Ducks Unlimited, have contributed millions of dollars to conservation efforts.
The pull of wetland environments on the heartstrings of outdoor enthusiasts all over the country is all the more apparent when we see, in dollar amounts, how much we value these special places. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3.1 million people 16 years old and older hunted migratory birds such as ducks, geese and doves in 1996. During the year, they spent $720 million on equipment and $576 million on trip-related expenditures including food, lodging and land use fees. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 3 million migratory bird hunters spent more than $1.4 billion for hunting related goods and services in 2001. A similar survey in 1991 showed $1.3 billion in waterfowl-hunting expenditures with a total economic impact of $3.9 billion. This includes the generation of 46,000 additional jobs and $176 million in sales and income tax revenues.
Birdwatching is an activity that has grown in popularity more quickly than any other type of outdoor recreation, including biking, pleasure-walking, skiing and golf. In fact, participation in birding activities has tripled from 1982-83 (21 million) to 1997 (63 million). Since birds naturally gravitate towards the nutrient-rich waters and sheltering vegetation found in aquatic habitats, an inordinate amount of this recreational birding is associated with wetlands. The observation and photography of wetland dependent birds, alone, entice an estimated 50 million people to spend nearly $10 billion each year. And don t forget, each dollar spent directly on the recreational activity is multiplied by other travel-related expenses. For example, every $1 paid to canoeing outfitters, customers spent $5 for gas, groceries, restaurants, campgrounds, and other lodging. So if we add up the 2001 costs of the equipment, travel and other related expenses of all hunters, anglers, birders, and nature photographers, America s outdoor enthusiasts spent a grand total of $108 billion!
Equally important to their contribution to our favorite pastimes, wetlands are a magnet for people that want to get away from the hustle-bustle of life to simply relax for a while and enjoy the scenery. For example, more than 1.5 million visitors a year are attracted to Virginia s Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, many just to observe the tens of thousands of migrating shorebirds and hawks that pause at the wetlands to rest or feed.
All in all, wetland ecosystems contribute a vital part of our natural wealth. A natural wealth that, according to a recent assessment of the dollar value of our natural ecosystems, is estimated to be worth a whopping $33 trillion! While these numbers are certainly impressive, measuring all the benefits of aquatic ecosystems is notoriously difficult, even for a specific type of wetland because of the diversity of wetland types and locations.
The bottom line is that in addition to being a vital ecological resource, wetlands in America are also an enormously important economic resource for communities all across the country.
Wetlands Sounds
Take a look below at some residents of our national wetlands. You can hear their distinctive sounds by clicking on the associated links. (All recordings courtesy of NatureSongs. You can hear these and more at Naturesongs.com.
 Click here to hear the American Widgeon.
 Click here to hear the Wood Duck.
 Click here to hear the Northern Pintail.
Wetland Sights and Sounds written by Suzanne Zanelli.
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The Izaak Walton League of America, founded in 1922, is a national conservation organization committed to protecting fish and wildlife, critical habitat and water resources. The League has 50,000 members and supporters nationwide, and maintains a national office in Gaithersburg, Maryland and a Midwest office in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Photos courtesy of USFWS.
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